Stress

Being a teacher. I love it. I hate it. I fear it. I relish it. Each day brings something new. It allows me the opportunity to experience about 30 professions all in one day, which allows the freedom of never falling into a "rut" in my job. However, it creates a sense of stress unlike any other. I am on a countdown to spring break. I don't recall a year that I have needed it so badly. I also, do not recall a year when so many people have commented on how nice it must be to be a teacher and get a break. I despise this comment. We do not get these breaks by lollygagging through the year. The very same people that comment to me how nice it must be to get a break from school, are the same ones that, come the end of summer, are begging me to take their children back. If they need a break after 9 weeks of 2-3 children, why wouldn't teachers need a break after 9 months of 180 children. Teachers may be given a "week off" to catch up on things; grading, planning, classes, spending REAL time with their families, etc;  but most other professions provide paid time off as well...obviously, or I wouldn't have so many students headed to a spring break destination 2 days before spring break officially begins. So, as I am procrastinating from the piles of papers staring at me to be graded right now, I will post the following......a perfect reminder as to why teachers, and many other professions, take breaks. Not that I would ever consider my students or my school a "burden" as I do truly LOVE my job, but this sums up how I am feeling right now. 

 A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’….. she fooled them all.  “How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.  Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter.  It depends on how long I hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem.  If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.  If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.  In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”  She continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress.  If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night… pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment.  Relax, pick them up later after you’ve rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now ‘supposed’ stress that you’ve conquered!”